Resume vs. the ATS (or software that you have to get through before you are considered)

Resume vs. the ATS (or software that you have to get through before you are considered) Ive seen a lot of conversation asking how to create a resume that will pass through the Applicant Tracking System software (ATS) that some companies use. Before I go on, I should share that I dont think that a lot of companies use automated resume scanning.  The companies I worked at, where I was in a hiring capacity, did not (and Im sure at least one of them does not today).  Smaller companies that hire infrequently probably dont have an ATS.  Hiring was something we did when we needed to, and we made it up as we went along, much like many startups would.  Its not the multi-level sophistication that you would expect at a big company that hires a lot, like IBM, Microsoft, etc. In other words, the advice in the link below will apply sometimes, with some target companies, but the strategy to get through an ATS is not an all-inclusive strategy for anyone who owns a resume. AND, remember that you are supposed to try to network into a company as often as you can, as opposed to apply online for all the openings you can find. With that in mind, check out this Lifehacker link addressing the issue.  They have a good graphic showing what an ATS is (as it relates to resume scanning), and some good points on how to optimize your resume to make it through the cuts. How Can I Make Sure My Resume Gets Past Resume Robots and into a Humans Hand? Resume vs. the ATS (or software that you have to get through before you are considered) Ive seen a lot of conversation asking how to create a resume that will pass through the Applicant Tracking System software (ATS) that some companies use. Before I go on, I should share that I dont think that a lot of companies use automated resume scanning.  The companies I worked at, where I was in a hiring capacity, did not (and Im sure at least one of them does not today).  Smaller companies that hire infrequently probably dont have an ATS.  Hiring was something we did when we needed to, and we made it up as we went along, much like many startups would.  Its not the multi-level sophistication that you would expect at a big company that hires a lot, like IBM, Microsoft, etc. In other words, the advice in the link below will apply sometimes, with some target companies, but the strategy to get through an ATS is not an all-inclusive strategy for anyone who owns a resume. AND, remember that you are supposed to try to network into a company as often as you can, as opposed to apply online for all the openings you can find. With that in mind, check out this Lifehacker link addressing the issue.  They have a good graphic showing what an ATS is (as it relates to resume scanning), and some good points on how to optimize your resume to make it through the cuts. How Can I Make Sure My Resume Gets Past Resume Robots and into a Humans Hand?

A Unique Way To Celebrate Your College Life With Ring Wraps

A Unique Way To Celebrate Your College Life With Ring Wraps There have been many developments in the college life of people. Use of various mementos and monikers make the appearance for the alumni and present students unique in many universities. This is done in order to give them a feeling of belonging to the area. There is no way you are going to feel left out if you do any such thing and connect with the crowd at the college. It is all about having the sense of belonging to the group of students. There are many things that students come up with to create an atmosphere of trust and companionship in the college. College Rings There are differing views about various traditions that are followed around the various states in US. People may find reasons suitable to their perceptions to do things followed by their alma mater. This has to do with college traditions that are rites of passage or a way to remember college later. College rings have been around for more than a century now and it has made a mark in the minds of the students without a doubt.    College class rings is just another way to engrave this memory deeper with panache. It is all about making the style statement be delivered without fail. These rings have a fleeting allure associated with them when it comes to the college students. With so many of them getting to wear the ring with pride and responsibility, it becomes a part of daily life. Cheap rings can ruin the whole idea and that is why people now opt for some fancy ring wraps. Ring wraps are hip and going around as the coolest things in the market with many finding it worth a shot. Be it men or women,   wearing the college ring means a different emotion altogether. The importance of the ring can never be stressed in words, it can only be felt. Rings for you Once you are in college, only then do you realize the feel of it. This is when things have taken a serious turn and you are no longer a high school guy or girl. With a quality ring around your finger this feel of being a part of the esteemed institution gets going. It is all about how you want to carry forward the legacy of the students before you. There are many students who like to take pride in wearing such representations of honor that relate to their college or university. It all comes down to personal choice and thinking after all. Making it custom Getting a custom college ring wrap can be really special for any of the students. This is the one time they will be buying a piece of ornament in the college just to commemorate the year later in their life. This is why the college too has a responsibility to make the ring something that each of the student can cherish for life and be proud about while telling their kids about it.

The Six S Formula For Women to Thrive Professionally

The Six S Formula For Women to Thrive Professionally The following is a guest post by Suzanne Johnson Cook.  Her bio follows. No matter what field they may choose to work in, all professional women share a bond of common experience. All of them are trying to advance their careers in a world where the easy way is almost never upwards. The struggles that women encountered in years past have eased for some, but are still almost universally experienced to some degree by most. That hasn’t slowed these women down for a second, though. Women are advancing in the professional field at an accelerated rate every year and shattering glass ceilings. Still, there are dilemmas faced by any ambitious person when it comes to living a life that has a healthy balance of career success while still having a personal life they can enjoy. For women who want to have it all, there are six things they should focus on to fast track success and make it all come together. Sisterhood You want to be independent and prove yourself, but remember that no woman is an island. The best way to succeed and to raise yourself in the opinion of other professional people is to reach out and network with like-minded people. If you surround yourself with a group of other professional women, not only can they connect you with new opportunities, they can also show you the ropes and you can streamline some of the difficulties that others have already faced and be that much more ahead yourself. Find individuals who are successful and who push you to be the best you can be. In your personal life, make sure that your friends can make time for you and provide an ear or shoulder when you need it.  Shed A lot of times we focus so much on what we accumulate that we don’t realize that it is at least equally important to get rid of the things that we don’t need. Whether it’s the mountain of paperwork on your desk or the people who don’t push you to be your best, you need to get rid of anything that is slowing you down and holding you back. If you don’t, it will be like trying to run the hundred-yard dash with an iron ball and chain on your ankles.  Scream! (in private) If you’ve been struggling in business or in your career, any professional woman knows that frustration can build. It is important to let off some steam once in a while. The best way to do it is to find a private place (hopefully where you won’t be heard by someone who thinks you need the police!) and scream your heart out. I know that people might think you’re crazy if you were to do that in public, but screaming can be one of the best things you can do to release tension and get back to your day on the right track.   It’s a release and it feels good. Silliness The counterweight to the scream is the laugh. You may think that things are too important to let go, and you may even feel guilty if you are in the middle of a big project to let go and have a laugh or two. Just like screaming can release frustration and tension, laughing can help put things into perspective and bring your problems a little bit back down to earth.   Plus, not to mention, it’s just downright good for the human soul.  Sanctuary This can be the scream spot, the laugh spot or anything you need it to be. It’s important to have a little spot of your own where you can reflect and recharge. This may be your bedroom, but it can also be a nature trail, your car or even the library. During my Congressional run, I would go sit at Carl Schultz Park in Manhattan to get away from it all. Wherever it is, just make it your own little spot where you can just relax, take a breath and get away from the world.  Savor (the moment) When we get tied up at work, it’s easy to lose focus of everything else. It’s important to have balance in your life and to enjoy your personal time when you get it. If you’re at the kids’ soccer game, or out with friends, make sure that you put the smartphone away and keep all those work issues in their own little box that you can’t open until personal time is done.  The takeaway It’s important that you do what’s best for you when you’re trying to succeed.   My list is a guide of things that help me when I’m in a tough spot.   Add your own items and make your own list of what works for you. No matter what your list looks like, I believe that all career women don’t need to tough it out all alone and take on the weight of the world all by themselves. Reach out to others. Maintain a healthy balance in your life of work and personal living. Remember, success will be of no use if you don’t enjoy it. Suzan Johnson Cook (“Ambassador SuJay”) was a former advisor to President Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama and Secretary of State Hilary Clinton.   She served as Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom from 2011-2013.   She is a faith feminist, international influencer, entrepreneur and diplomat.  Suzan is passionate about human rights and equality, especially for women.   http://charismaspeakers.com/suzan-johnson-cook/ . Image credits. Balance.     Others via pixabay.

The 3 Best Jobs For Recent College Grads - Career Sidekick

The 3 Best Jobs For Recent College Grads - Career Sidekick The 3 Best Jobs For Recent College Grads Occupations Careers Recent Grads / https://www.edenscott.com/blog In this article, Im going to walk you through the best jobs for recent college grads who want to earn more money, have better job security, and find enjoyable/exciting work at interesting companies.After years of working as a Recruiter, learning about different positions, hearing what different jobs pay, and studying employment trends these are what I feel are the the best jobs for recent college graduates.And the top 3 careers I recommend can all be started with ANY college degree.This list isnt just about the highest-paying entry level jobs, but also job security, future career growth opportunities, and finding interesting work.However, youll see below that many of the jobs listed below ARE some of the best-paid jobs, because the higher-paying, in-demand jobs also tend to have better job security and more options/choices in the future.The Best Jobs And Careers For Recent College Graduates:Lets get started with the list of best jobs for recent college grads now.In no particular order, these are the absolute BEST jobs and careers for recent college graduates in my opinion.1. Software Engineering/Programming And Related FieldsThis is one of the best jobs for recent college graduates interested in technology and software.Software engineering is hands-down one of the best fields you can get into right now in terms of salary, demand for your skills, and future career growth.These positions pay extremely well.(Some software developers earn $100K+ after just two or three years in the field).And demand is rising as more of the worlds businesses rely on software. (Even businesses that have been around forever like UPS).And while youll have a leg-up on the competition if you have a 4-year degree in Computer Science, its not necessary or required for all jobs in this fieldThere are many coding bootcamps and schools teaching this skill set in a matter of weeks, rather than years.And some of them help you find a job after graduating as well. Here are a couple of the top programs for learning software development:General Assembly a coding bootcamp with physical locations in many major cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Denver, and many more. Plus international cities including London, Sydney, Melbourne, Paris and Singapore.They also offer online courses if youre not in one of the cities they operate in.Lambda School a 9-month immersive program teaching you modern programming skills, with no upfront cost. According to their website, Instead of paying tuition, students can agree to pay a percentage of their income after theyre employed, and only if theyre making more than $50k per yearPluralSight an online platform for learning a variety of cutting edge tech skills, with a free 10-day trial.It might also be worth checking out LinkedIn Learning, one of my favorite online learning platforms for a variety of topics. (they have 10,000+ courses across a very broad range of categories).Note: Id also put careers like data science and data engineering into this group of some of the best entry level college graduate jobs.I expect the demand (and pay) for these positions to be as good as software engineering in the coming decade and beyond.However, jobs in data science and similar fields tend to require an advanced background in mathematics, statistics or computer science, so its less likely youll be able to get up to speed with just a short bootcamp.So thats why I talked more about software development jobs above because you can learn the skills necessary to develop apps and websites (and get a job doing this) much faster.2.   Digital MarketingDont want to learn programming? No problem!There are a couple more great careers for recent college grads with any degree, and digital marketing is one of them.At this point, every company knows they need a digital presence, even the very old-fashioned companies that traditionally relied on off-line marketing.(Go try to find a single large brand withou t social media accounts. You cant).And as companies get on-board, theyre realizing they need a lot of help in this area.Specific work in this field includes creating and managing online advertisements (on Facebook, Google, Instagram and more) managing organic social media posts (non-paid ads regular posts that companies put out to their followers.There are many other areas as well, including website optimization, email marketing, and much more.Its also a relatively new field so you wont be competing against people who have 20-30 years of experience.Some of the most knowledgeable digital marketers are in their 20s right now.So you can earn a great salary ($50-60K within one or two years, and much more over time) in this field.If you want help getting started in this field, I wrote a detailed review of the one online resource I recommend for learning digital marketing. You can read more here:My guide on where to learn digital marketing online3. SalesThis is another one of the best ca reers for college graduates, and one of my personal favorites.I heard a statistic recently that 70% of billionaires got started in sales.Im not sure if its true, but I dont doubt itSales teaches you incredible skills persuasion, resiliency (after you get hung up on a few times or yelled at once or twice, you realize its NOT a big deal and life goes on).And you can earn an absolute TON of money. Its without a doubt one of the best careers for recent grads.In one of my first jobs after graduating college, I was on the customer service team and sat right next to the sales teamAnd I overheard some interesting things. For exampleThe top sales guy in the company made $2 million a year.He lived in Mexico on a beach with his wife.The second best sales guy made over $1 million a year.And they were doing it with college degrees in English and History, not Business!You DONT need a business degree to get most of the best business jobs as a recent college graduate.Thats why sales is one of the best jobs for recent graduates who want to earn 6 figures or more.Why Do Salespeople Make So Much? (Sometimes MILLIONS a Year)Simply put because they can earn their employer so much.If youre closing deals and bringing in millions in revenue for the company, they have no problem paying you a piece of that through commission.(Commission is when your employer pays you a percentage of the value of new deals you bring into the company).Its a win-win for the company, and a win-win for you if you learn sales and perform at a high level.Warning: Not All Sales Jobs Are Created EqualId recommend B2B sales (business-to-business).These will be larger deals, so more potential money in YOUR pocket.Business people are also typically more reasonable when youre trying to sell to them.Theyre not spending their own personal money when they agree to a deal with your company; theyre spending their companys budget.Its not personal and theres less emotion involved which makes it much more relaxed and easi er in my opinion.If you do get into B2B sales, the typical base salary will be around $35-65K, and there should be a commission structure too.Avoid positions that pay 100% commission and zero base salary, especially as a recent college grad or entry level job seeker.  There are definitely some scams out there, and theyll often pay no base salary.So youre better off finding a position that pays a mix of base salary and commission.Why Business Jobs Are Some Of The Best For Recent College GraduatesYou may have noticed that 2/3 of the jobs mentioned above are business-related (digital marketing and sales).Why do I recommend business jobs for recent college graduates so heavily?Well, business jobs tend to be some of the best paying jobs for recent college graduates.And they also offer some of the best growth opportunities moving forward in your career.I also like recommending business jobs for recent college graduates because these positions will typically take people with a variety of d egrees/majors.(As long as you can convince them youve got what it takes to succeed in the interview).And while there are a couple of other careers that are good for recent graduates, they often require a specific degree.Ill cover them below anywayOther Good Entry Level College Graduate Jobs (Requiring Specific Degrees):The following careers also provide some of the best entry level jobs for recent college graduates, but you need a specific degree for them.I also dont see as many opportunities for future growth as you advance in your career in these jobs.Theyll start out with a high salary, but you may struggle to keep earning more as time goes on.Thats just based on what Im seeing RIGHT NOW and doesnt even factor in the threat of automation replacing some of these jobs below (which I think it could happy for all 3 entry-level jobs Im going to name)NursingNursing is a great occupation that can pay $50-60K in some cities, which is great entry level pay for a non-business field.But you need a nursing degree.So if you found this article by searching for the best jobs for recent college grads, then the last thing Id recommend is going back to get another degree if you dont already have a degree in nursing.EngineeringVarious types of engineering jobs will pay extremely well right out of college. But like Nursing, youre going to need a specific degree to get started.So again- if you happen to have a relevant degree, you can earn great money in areas like these:Electrical EngineeringChemical EngineeringAerospace EngineeringEtc.Plus as an engineer, theres an opportunity to work at some of the most exciting companies. For example, SpaceX hires a lot of engineers both for their software and rockets.But I realize most people dont have an engineering degree, which is why the jobs I listed earlier dont require any specific degree.AccountingAccounting is one of the best entry level college graduate jobs right out of the gate in terms of salary.(Ive seen recent grads in Accou nting get jobs paying $45-55K with no experience).And there are some good career paths forwardYou could continue earning more and more with this by becoming the head of an accounting department, a Controller, or CFO (Chief Financial Officer).But many accountants get stuck at the Staff Accountant level forever.And I personally just dont think the work sounds very interesting.However, I know some people out there love accounting. I studied Finance in school and took enough Accounting courses to know Id never want to do it.But if you majored in this field and want an accounting job, go ahead and try it!The starting salary will be good, youll learn a lot about how businesses operate, and you can also switch into a finance or sales/marketing role if you decide accounting isnt for you.Are These The Only Good Jobs For Recent Graduates?No there are certainly others.However, the first 3 I mentioned in this article are the BEST right now in my opinion. (Software, Digital Marketing, and Sales ).I didnt set out to create a list of 20 mediocre jobs for entry-level job seekers; I want to give you the best of the best.That doesnt mean there arent good choices for you, though.For example, recruiting isnt a bad job or career, especially when looking for entry-level positions as a recent graduate.I personally learned a ton working as a Recruiter, was well-paid, and it gave me the knowledge and inspiration to start this website which turned into my full-time business now!Yet I didnt put Recruiter on the list because I feel Sales is better (and very similar, even though most people dont realize it).Its okay if you want to do something thats not on this list.If youre passionate about something else, youll probably succeed with it!Passion goes a LONG way toward motivating you in your career, helping you stand out and get promotions, etc.As long as you dont take a total dead-end career path, youll do fine if youre passionate about something.In fact, in the jobs I struggled in very e arly in my career, the whole issue was I had zero passion for what I was doing. (Customer service, client support, etc.)I was miserableNot because the work was particularly tough. It was just that I couldnt care less about what I was doing!So every little thing became stressful and difficult.Youll be much happier and more successful if you find something you actually care about doing. Thats the big take-away here.Use the list of best entry-level careers and jobs above as a guideline if you recently graduated, but dont think you have to follow one of these options, because you dont.What do you think? Did I forget anything on this list of the best jobs for recent college grads? Leave a comment below and let me know.

6 Donts When Contacting Your Recruiter Online - CareerMetis.com

6 Don’ts When Contacting Your Recruiter Online To avoid ruining your chances when contacting your recruiter online, you need to observe how you send emails or make calls. Before you meet a potential employer, chances are that you will be contacting the recruiter. Don’t screen yourself out by making these mistakes.1. Don’t make Obnoxious MistakesevalTechnology has advanced. Unlike in the past when people used to write hand letters and resumes, nowadays everything has been made simple. You can craft an email, your cover letter, résumé, and send it to your potential recruiter all in one go. evalWhile things are simple, you need to avoid sending emails full of grammatical and spelling errors.Your cover letter and resume represents you, so if you make such unacceptable mistakes, you will look unprofessional. Before you hit that “send” button, have you proofread your email? How many times? Is it once, twice or thrice? Are you 100% sure it is flawless? Well, while there are errors that you might not spot, it is important to pr oofread your emails more than twice before you send it to a recruiter. Sending emails with misspelled words can make you look careless at best.“Many people get their emails ignored by recruiters because they are full of minor errors that could be detected from a distance,” says Janet Jimson, career coach, and author of resume writing services reviews. The secret to overcoming these errors is to spend your time to go through your email several times to spot mistakes and correct them before you send it.2. Don’t ever Request a Recruiter to Help You find a JobDo you get into a recruiter’s inbox just to ask them to help you find a job? If yes, you need to change your habit once you read this post.eval A recruiter may read your resume, and if they find it good, they might market it to potential employers, however, at the end of it all, a recruiter will want to get potential candidates to fill an advertised position. He/she is not there to help you find a job. While this is an obvi ous thing, many candidates still make this mistake.3. Don’t refer to Recruiters as “Bro.”Not all recruiters are casual. Some could try to be fun so that they can build a relationship with candidates to the extent of cracking jokes. While you might want to respond just the way a recruiter reacts while you are having a conversation, you need to maintain precision of language, no matter how well your discussion may be going.evalUnderstand that a recruiter making fun wants to make the recruitment process a bit more pleasant and not quite so severe, so try to control yourself and avoid letting your guard down. Some candidates would start to create a relationship, and all formality disappears. Ensure to avoid words that will make you look too informal and give attention to the way you introduce your emails and the ending as well.Some candidates become informal to the extent of calling recruiters “bro” or “dude,” which is unprofessional. Save that until you get the job and yo u grow closer to the recruiters. Most importantly, use correct grammar.4. Don’t Ask the Recruiter if they Have a Job Opening that Fits Your ProfileAs mentioned above, recruiters are not job finders. Again, companies sometimes may have vacancies at any given moment. The vacancies that exist might be shared among a group of recruiters who are visible to the openings they are offering.In fact, you should be the one to state the position that fits your qualifications and interests as well as your career path. The best thing to do here is to search for jobs online, find a post that you are interested in, submit an application according to the company’s specifications, then contact a recruiter with a specific position in mind.If you follow that approach, you will make the recruiter be in a position to alias with the decision-makers. This is the best way to simplify and hasten the process; you will also not look like a burden on the recruiter.Also, can you please send me Kisina’s ema il address or phone number? This is also another request that candidates make. Note that if you are on LinkedIn, you must have realized that people who want their contact information to be public they will include it in their profile. Be sure to check instead of requesting it from a recruiter.evalIf they have not included it, you should not ask a recruiter to send you even if the person you want to get the contacts for is someone you know well.5. Don’t Embrace Technology if You cannot be CarefulevalTechnology has simplified our lives. It has revolutionized communications and has made things faster. Modernization has increased productivity, sure, but you need to embrace it with caution. It is true you can respond to a recruiter using your smartphone or tablet, but it might cost you nothing to use a cyber café computer or a borrowed laptop. It could, however, cost you a job when done using a personal phone. Though, if you can exercise caution, proceed.Sending emails via your phone can make it hard to write flawlessly. You have higher chances of making grammatical and typographical mistakes when you use your phone as compared to a laptop or a PC.evalThe best thing to do is to sit in front of your computer, write a compelling and professional email that will be readable to your recruiter.On the other hand, some candidates will write emails in a shouting manner. What does this mean? When you write everything in capital letters, you will look like you are shouting to the recruiter, so, use capital letters ONLY where applicable.6. Don’t call but Send an EmailThere are many things that recruiters get engaged in during a recruitment process like phone screening, interviews, and this may leave them with no time for calls. Therefore, put your phone aside and use your computer or a laptop to send an email. This will give the recruiter plenty of time to review your emails carefully when they settle. Note that you need to keep your email concise and straightforward.If you had previously discussed something, you could write some few sentences of your email reminding them. This is the best and professional way to make a recruiter feel it reasonable to reply to your email and maintain a positive relationship with them.For instance, you could write something like:Hello John,I submitted my application for a freelance writing position some few days ago and would like to know how the hiring process is going. I am delighted to learn more about this position and would be grateful to get any updates from you concerning it.Regards,Marvin.As you can see the example above, it is short and to the point.Bonus: Don’t be a multi-taskerThe way you contact your recruiter can decide whether your candidacy will stand out or not. Let’s say a recruiter chooses to send you an inbox message via your LinkedIn account, the recruiter wants to get immediate and to the point answers.You will ruin your candidacy by making a recruiter wait for ages for your response since y ou are engaging yourself on other things. The best thing is to collect yourself, leave all that you are currently doing, complete your conversation and then get back to what you were doing. This will make you concentrate on the conversation.ConclusionThere you have it; 6 Don’ts when contacting your recruiter online. Read all of them, see which one of these common mistakes represents you, and then find ways to avoid it before it ruins your candidacy.

Job-Search Online and Book Research - Hire Imaging

Job-Search Online and Book Research - Hire Imaging You’ve done self-analysis to figure out your job fit. It may feel that the next logical step is to talk to people. You could do that; but if you wait until after you’ve done some due diligence, you’ll have more focused and productive conversations later. Here’s why. You have incomplete information and knowledge. People are busy and don’t have time to educate you. Think about how frustrating it might be for folks to get a call from you saying, “I want to get into the healthcare industry. Can you tell me where to start?” They want to help, and might agree to talk to you. But there’s too much to cover for this conversation to be as valuable as it could be. A better approach to the conversation. What if you could say, “I’ve been researching the healthcare industry and am exploring how to best tap my skills as a project manager in that sector. I have isolated a few directions, but need advice. Would you be willing to share some insights?” If you conduct online and book research, this is where it can take you. So, instead of calling people, go online or dig up articles, books and other published sources to help you discover: What’s implicated in the area you care about and attracts you the most What kinds of jobs might exist in this area What trends are influencing this area This will help you confirm or disprove what you think â€" based on your own brainstorming â€" and will expand your knowledge. You’ll be better informed when you sit down and talk to someone. You can find information by reading consumer and trade publications, doing general searches online, and visiting market research or opinion sites, such as Gallup’s and websites that write about cultural trends. Start your job-search research by being very specific, typing into a search engine, “project manager jobs in healthcare in Minneapolis.” Or, you might be more general, typing in terms such as: Project manager jobs Healthcare jobs Healthcare associations Trends in healthcare Issues in healthcare Healthcare organizations Healthcare publications While you may not find all of these below, here’s the sort of information to search for. Take notes, and print out any data you think you’ll need later: What people do in these areas The kinds of jobs that exist Skills people use in the roles that sound appealing What the environment and culture of the work and organizations are like Who interacts with people in this work The kind of knowledge that is important to have or acquire Background or education people in these areas or jobs have Trends affecting this area Begin at the most logical point you think of, peel away the layers of information as it unfolds, and pursue the trails you uncover that lead to other resources and discoveries. A sampling of research sources to uncover trends and other data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Census Bureau Trade publications Consumer magazines Fast Company magazine Fortune magazine Forbes magazine New laws and regulations What people discuss every day and need (or complain about) Trends are especially useful, One trend may create new job needs; another may speed the decline of a job. Once you’ve done research, write down your findings: The role or roles that sound most appealing to you What people actually do in these roles The skills required The kinds of organizations that might have these jobs The environment these organizations appear to have What the culture seems to be like The types of people you’d interact with Knowledge that’s important to have Experience that can be helpful Education that is required or preferred Ways to break into the field The geographical areas jobs in this field tend to focus on The issues or trends driving the direction this field or job is going in How do you match up? In my next post, I’ll share some ways to do a reality check on whether your career direction is aligned with what you said you want. What are your thoughts? I’d love to hear from you! Please comment below.

Dr. Kings message rings true for job seekers -

Dr. Kings message rings true for job seekers - Dr. Martin Luther King offered many inspiring messages. As we honor him today, it seems fitting to remember his message of hope. His I Have A Dream address was delivered in a time when most of his dreams really seemed to be just that. However, having dreams isnt enough. Dr. King and other leaders of the Civil Rights movement recognized that hard work and sacrifice was key to success. Thinking outside of the box, organizing peaceful marchesCivil disobedience. All of these at a great cost, but prepared and enacted with great hope. It is impossible to observe this King holiday without thinking ahead to President-Elect Obamas inauguration. Obamas message that seemed to resonate with so many voters, Yes we can, was another message of hope when things are not looking very hopeful. Every job seeker can take something away from these optimistic messages. Maybe the message is as simple as a reminder that hope is important, even when it is hard to muster. Maybe the more important take-away is that nothing worthwhile comes without hard work and effort. No matter the message, as the nation pauses to honor Dr. King, this is a good time for job seekers to stop and think about how to harness hope with hard work to move forward with an optimistic job hunt. Or, take another lesson from King and turn this day into a day of service and volunteer. Its a great way to spend the holiday, with added benefits for job seekers. Need some help with your hunt? I can help! Contact me for a free resume assessment. Image via Wikipedia